Sandies don't crack, beat Titans easily

Oct. 9, 2012 at 5:09 a.m.

PORT LAVACA - There was no coming back for the Titans this time.

Calhoun made sure it finished off the Victoria East volleyball team when it had the chance Tuesday night, emphatically beating Titans 25-18, 25-11, 25-13 to take a stranglehold on second place in District 30-4A play.

"It was really intense, the whole time the whole game," said Calhoun junior Jordan Edison. We were both fighting. .It feels good to win, knowing that we were all tied for second at one point."

When the two teams met Sept. 14 the Sandies (29-8, 6-2) also won the first two games. They even had a match point that night; however, the Titans found a way to win in five.

This time the Sandies were more focused in the third game and were able to put things away.

"The last time we played them in the third game we let up," Edison said. "We didn't want that to happen this time. We wanted to fight, we wanted to win and prove to a lot of people that we could do it."

A week ago the Sandies, Titans and Calallen all had identical 5-2 records in district play. However, East (19-16, 5-4) coupled Tuesday's loss with one in five games to Gregory-Portland last Friday. Meanwhile, the Sandies have nabbed the second spot and tentatively own the tiebreaker over Calallen.

Edison, and her head coach Virginia Parsons, said East is a good volleyball team. However, the Sandies were exceptionally focused Tuesday.

"We've been adjusting better. Our hitters try not to be so picky and they are adjusting to the set they are getting. They have the people behind them to talk to them, letting them know what's open. I tell them communication is the key and if we can communicate on the court the sky is the limit."

Edison had five kills, two blocks and two aces for the Sandies. Her teammate, Melina Ortiz led all players with 12 kills. Brooke Behrens led all players with 18 digs, while Ciana Tankelwicz had 10 digs and two blocks.

Tallen Hermes and MaKennah Moore combined for 24 assists for Calhoun. East may have had more assists on the night; however, Tuesday's match may have been won with the Sandies passing.

East volleyball coach Jamye Pauley said the passing "was a big part of it" but was not her team's only miscue on the night.

"It was definitely a let down," Pauley said. "They came ready to play. They had a game plan, obviously, and stuck to it. We couldn't adjust. We had a game plan, but we didn't do it. It was a big let down. . on all parts."

Morgan Lienemann had nine kills. Jayda Whitby added seven more as the Titans' right side hitter. Destani Villarreal had a double-double with 15 assists and 10 digs.

To compound things for the Titans, they host Victoria West on Friday night. The Warriors are undefeated in district play, and have never lost to the Titans in five all-time meetings.